Seal for auxiliary filling nipples



May 15, 1951 1'. c. SMITH 2,553,340

' SEAL FOR AUXILIARY FILLING NIPPLES Filed Oct. 22, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 wr/WA May l5, 1951 T. c. SMITH 2,553,340

SEAL FOR AUXILIARY FILLING NIPPLES Filled oct. 22, 1947 2 sheets-sheet 2 la m Patented May 15, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SEAL FOR AUXILIARY'FILLING NIPPLES? Theodore C; Smith, Drexel HilLPa..

Application October 22, 1947, Serial No. 781,347

5 Claims. (Cl. 285-27) My invention relates to new and useful seals for auxiliary filling nipples such as are often used in connection'. with fill lines. of tanks, in general, and liquid fuel tanks, in particular. Generally, the inlet end' of a ll line is approximately'ush with or inside of the plane of the surface of a building or the ground considered as including pavements, driveways and other localities Where fill lines leading to tanks may be situated. The inlet ends of lill lines may include various types of iittings, terminal boxes or iill-vent boxes to perm-it the employment of means to close said inlet ends and the easy use of a filling nozzle or gun which is inserted inthe inlet ends of the lill lines during iilling operations.

It has-been learned that by temporarily mounting an auxiliary iilling nipple of considerable length, say twelve to sixteen inches long, in the inlet end of a fill line, the outer end ofsaid ll line is extended. which permits easier access for the insertion of the gun and provides a rather long straight runway for the liquid before reaching any turns which change the direction ofow on the way to theY tank. This reduces to a minimum or entirely eliminates the possibility of the liquid flow being slowed up or blocked which might cause an overflow from the-inlet end of the fill line resulting in damage to property or creating a re hazard.

In using anV auxiliary filling nipple the op- 3 erator must screw said nipple tightly into the inlet end of the fill line. This usuallyn requires the use of a Wrench to tighten theV nipple' prior to proceeding with the ii'lling operations; other- Wise a leaky joint might result and liquid"y would be spilled, and" the further' use' of sai-d` wrench after ccmpletienof the fillingoperations, to loosen the nipplt. Suchy additional manipulations waste the time' of" the operator and. consequently the number of llingoperations that could otherwise bev accomplished in a given time are' greatly reduced and time is anessential element" in'- the deliveryA costsY of' such liquids@ as fuel oil and gasoline.

An object of' the present invention is toovercomeY they disadvantages enumerated abov'e by providing. a seal for they joint: between the inlet end of the nil line'- and the. auxiliary filling nipple.

Another objecty is tov provvide` ai sealfor.` the; joint between two articles, items or members.. the seal"- ing: elements being carried by either or." botlL of said members;

Another object of thisinvention is to provide a. joint sealing means carried by or. mounted inev the inlet end of. al iill line? exemplified byv thev structure constituting a socket` whether it` bie a pipe tting, a terminal ofthe iill line, a terminal box, a lill-vent box or other equivalent device.

Another object of the present invention is, to provide a jointV sealing; means carried by or mounted on an auxiliary lling nipple.l

Another object of the invention ist to provide the inlet socketl of a ll-vent box or similar struc'- ture with a joint sealing` means.

Another object of the inventionis` to provide one socket end ofA a. pipe fitting with a joint. sealingv means.

A further object oi' this invention isto pitovide an4 auxiliary filling nipple With a joint sealing means. j

A still further object of, the present invention is to provide an auxiliary nlling nipple with, a sealing meansv which i's adjustable' longitudinally of said nipple.

With the above and other objects inview' this invention consists of" the details of construction and combination of elements hereinafter set forth and then designated by the claims.

ln order that those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains may understand how to make andi use the same I will describe its construction in detail referring by numerals to the accompanying: drawing forming. a part hereof, in which:

Fig'. 1 is a sectional View ofA an installation of iill-vent box. in a building Wall and anauxiliary lling nipple shown inserted' in theinlet opening and the joint closed by the seal.

Fig. 2. is a top plan View of the fill-vent box and auxiliary filling nipple.

Fig. 3 is a front View of the box.

Fig. 4. is a section of the box-r on thel line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5- isa sectional View of a pipe tting illustratingV an application of the-sealthereto with a portion of the auxiliary iilling'v nippleY inserted.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view of a fill-vent box with an auxiliary filling nipple therein showingl the use of a sealing means on both elements to pro.- duce a, joint seal.

Fig. 7 is a similar View with the-sealingv means on the auxiliary lling nipple only.

Fig. 8 is a sectional View of a terminal box to which the invention is applied with ay nlling nipple mounted therein.

Fig. 9 is a similar view of the same; type oiLbox with its closure in place..

Fig. 10 is a side" elevation of an auxiliary filling nipple having; the sealing' means thereon: shown in section.

In carrying out my invention as herein embodied, reference will rst be made to Fig. 1, wherein a ll-vent box I5 is shown mounted in a wall I6 supporting a ceiling II of a cellar or other apartment in which a liquid fuel tank (not shown) may be located.

For purposes of illustration only, the fill-vent box, which is one of the articles or elements of the invention, as herein shown comprises a box body of any desirable shape or coniguration and size' so fashioned as to provide means for the reception of the outlet end of a vent line or pipe open to the atmosphere, herein shown as a socket I8, and means for the reception of the inlet end of a iill line or pipe 3B leading to the tank, herein shown as a socket I9, all combined in one device.

The socket I9 is the one with which weare particularly concerned ,and isrto be considered as a part of the inlet end of the fill line 2t although in this instance there is a socket 2| into which the fill pipe is actually screw threaded.

' Referring particularly to Figs. l, 3, 4 and 6, the socket I9 is provided with'a threaded portion 22 and beyond, below or spaced froin'the inner end of theV threaded portion is an annular rib o'r ridge 23 which surrounds orprojects radially into the main bore of said socket and the opening produced by said ridge or rib is smaller than that provided by the threaded portion.

Between said threaded portion 22 and the annular rib or ridge 23 is formed an annular groove y24 in which an annular compressible gasket 25,

of rubber or rubber-like material is mounted. A face of the groove 2e is flush with the outer or upper fac'e of the rib or ridge to provide a shoulder against which the gasket rests and inner diameter of said gasket or the hole through it is larger than the opening formed by the rib. This eliminates or reduces to a minimum the possibility of the gasket being expanded past the edge of the rib when compressed.

The numeral E6, Figs. l to Ll, inclusive, denotes the Vauxiliary lling nipple which is of considerable length and is to be screwed into the inlet end of the fill line or, more particularly, the socket I9 forming a part of said inlet end of said ll line. As said filling nipple is screwed into place, the inner end engages the gasket 25 and compresses the latter sufficiently to produce a liquidtight joint even where the threads in the socket or on the filling nipple are worn, damaged 'or loose fitting. The filling nipple can be placed 'in position and removed by hand without the use of tools so that the parts will not be marred v and the operations can be" accomplished y.with alacrity thus saving considerable time in actual place to place delivery operations.

In Fig. 5 a similar construction is shown embodied in a pipe fitting la, as one of the articles, wherein one end constitutes the socket I9@ lwhile the opposite end is threaded, as at Zia, to receive an end of a ll pipe, the same as previously mentioned. The socket IEa includes a threaded portion 22a and an annular rib or ridge 23a with the groove 25a between them to receive and hold the annular compressible gasket 25a. The pipe -tting or article' 5a with theV fill pipe constitute the fill line and said pipe iitting or article functions as the inlet end of said ll line. The auxiliary iilling nipple 26, which is interchangeable, is screwed into the socket and coacts with the gasket to produce a liquidtight joint. Y Y A further modification of essentially the sam structure is illustrated in Figs, S and 9 'where -as to accomplish the desired result.

the article I5b is shown as a terminal box or what is known as a lling iitting for gasoline tanks. In this form of the device one end constitutes the socket leb while the other end is threaded at 2lb for connection with a ll pipe the same as described above. The socket I9'o includes a threaded portion 22a. and an annular rib or ridge 23h with the groove 2:51) between them to receive and hold the annular compressible gasket 25h. The terminal box IEb with the ill pipe constitute the fill line and said terminal box acts as the inlet end of said lll line. This type of article also includes a plug closure Zl that fits the threaded portion 22h and said closure may be long enough to engage and compress the gasket to form a tight joint when in place. After removal ofthe closure, the auxiliary lling nipple 26 may be inserted in place of the closure for the same purpose as above set forth.

The iill-vent box or article i5 shown in Fig. `6 is identical to that illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, but the difference between the two is that the auxiliary lling nipple 2da, Figs. 6, 7 and l0, has an annular gasket 28 mounted on the outside thereof in the region of the threads on at least one end and, preferably, adjustable longitudinally of said nipple. To prevent flexingl of the gasket a stiff or rigid backing member 29 is located back of the gasket to be engaged by the latter and said backing member may be a metal washer having threaded connection with filling nipple so as to be adjustable lengitudinally of said nipple.

Again referring to Fig. 6, when the auxiliary filling nipple is screwed into the threaded portion of the socket or inlet of the ll line the inner end of said filling nipple will engage and compress the gasket 2li and if the gasket 58 is properly spaced from said inner end of said nipple said gasket 2B will engage some outer surface and further seal the connection between the two articles. If the gasket is not properly spaced so that both gaskets function simultaneously, the gasket 28 and its backer 29 may be adjusted so This may be done after the filling nipple has been screwed all the way into the socket by merely turning the backing member in the proper direction to force the gasket 28 onto a seat. As the auxiliary filling nipple is interchangeable it can be used in a similar manner with the fitting Fig. 5, the terminal box of Figs. 8 and 9 or other equivalent structures constituting the inlet ends of nll lines.

The auxiliary lling nipple with its own sealing means, Fig. 10, can be used without the gasket in a socket structure, as shown in Fig. 7 merely for purposes of illustration, because it can be used with various types of inlet ends of ll lines or sockets, typified by those depicted in the drawings. In an instance of this kind the ll-vent box I5c, representing one of the articles has a Aplain or simple socket Ic, with a threaded portion 22e but without the associated sealing gasket, at the outer or forward end, while the opposite end is threaded at 2 Ic to receive an end of a ll pipe. The fill-vent box |50, or other equivalent device, with the fill pipe constitute the complete ll line and said fill-vent box or article I5c functions as the inlet end of said fill line. The auxiliary filling nipple 26a being usuable with any threaded and socketed inlet end of a i'ill line, is screwed into the socket until its sealing gasket seats on an exposed surface of the inlet end or socket to produce a liquidtight sealed joint. A convenient method of accomplishing the sealing action is to move both the backing member 29 and the gasket 28 inward relative to the end of the lling nipple which is to be screwed into the socket, then screwing said end into said socket and nally screwing the backing member towards the socket until contact is made with a seating surface and the gasket slightly compressed.

Regardless of the type of seal used the auxiliary lling nipple is an extension of the ll line and protrudes from the usual inlet end of said iill line to permit an operator to insert the gun so that no liquid is likely to back up and spill out of the filling nipple and due to the sealed joint at the inner end of said lling nipple no liquid can accidentally escape at that location which might damage property and even produce a re hazard. Because of the above features, the operator does not have to be extra careful during the actual lling operations and since the auxiliary lling nipple can be installed, for temporary use, easily and quickly, and just as hastily removed, by hand, the delivery operations can be speeded up, resulting in a considerable saving of time and expense.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that I have provided an exceedingly efcient seal for the joint between the inlet and of a ll line and an auxiliary lling nipple which can be embodied in either or both the iill line and said auxiliary lling nipple which can be embodied in either or both the ll line and said auxiliary filling nipple and one that will be relatively inexpensive in the cost of manufactue although strong and durable.

Of course I do not wish to be limited to the exact details of construction herein shown and described as these may be varied within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and intent of the invention.

Having described my invention what I claim as new and useful is:

1. A fill-vent box having a threaded socket constituting an inlet end for a ll line leading to a liquid tank, said socket having an annular gasket retaining groove in succeeding relation to the threads, an annular rib about the inside of the socket in succeeding relation to said gasket retaining groove, and an annular gasket positioned in said groove and resting on the rib, the inside diameter of the gasket being larger than the inside diameter of the annular rib and adapted to coact with an auxiliary lling nipple in abutting sealing relation when the latter is screwed into the socket.

2. A fill-vent box having a socket to receive an auxiliary lling nipple and constituting the inlet end of a ll line leading to a tank, said socket having an annular gasket retaining groove within its confines, and an annular gasket mounted in said groove to be engaged in abutting sealing relation by the lling nipple when the latter is temporarily and removably mounted in said socket.

3. A fill-vent box having an upwardly and outwardly inclined socket with a threaded portion to receive an auxiliary lling nipple and constituting the inlet end of a iill line leading to a tank, said socket having an annular gasket retaining groove succeeding the threaded portion, a compressible .annular gasket mounted in said groove and having a portion projecting from said groove in the path of travel of the lling nipple as the latter is screwed into the threaded portion of the socket for abutting sealing engagement with said gasket, and means on the socket succeeding the groove and backing the projecting portion of said gasket.

4. A device of the kind described, a ll-vent box having a socket constituting the inlet end of a fill line leading to a tank, said socket having an annular gasket retaining groove within its coniines, an annular compressible gasket mounted in said groove with the inner periphery of said gasket extending outside of the groove, an auxiliary filling nipple screwed into the socket until its inner end engages the gasket in abutting sealing relation, and a second compressible gasket adjustably mounted on said lling nipple to engage the outer end of said socket in abutting sealing relation.

5. A ll vent box having a socket to receive an auxiliary lling nipple and constituting the inlet end of a fill line leading to a tank, said socket having an annular gasket retaining groove Within its connes, and an annular gasket mounted in said groove to be engaged in abutting sealing relation by the filling nipple when the latter is temporarily and removably mounted in said socket.

THEODORE C. SMITH.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS r Number Name Date 634,820 Henry et al Oct. 1'0, 1899 784,931 Duncan Mar. 14, 1905 860,911 Fruin July 23, 1907 1,190,641 Greaves July 11, 1916 1,796,077 Boosey Mar. 10, 1931 2,140,559 Sculley et al. Dec. 20, 1938 2,150,221 Hinderliter Mar. 14, 1939 2,319,410 Leary May 18, 1943 2,399,167 Chouinard Apr. 30, 1946 

